Question for those who moved to Maine (Portland, Scarborough: real estate market, apartment)

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by msina

My Dad was a Mason.

Did you ever get involved with Job's Daughters?

Eastern Star?

[msina]

My older sisters where "Daughters of the Eastern Star" I believe they were called. White dresses and all. I was child #8 (of 10). By that time my parents (who also raised 8 of our cousins) were too depleted to have time for social amenities for many things. Dad "went west" In '92, one of my sisters has his Masonic Bible and his apron, another has his ring.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by msina

My older sisters where "Daughters of the Eastern Star" I believe they were called. White dresses and all. I was child #8 (of 10). By that time my parents (who also raised 8 of our cousins) were too depleted to have time for social amenities for many things. Dad "went west" In '92, one of my sisters has his Masonic Bible and his apron, another has his ring.

You are eligible to be a member of the Eastern Star.

My 'daughter'.

[msina]

forest you are always a delight. Thank You

[a51ampFuse]

To add to my prior posting I would like to mention the -few good people- I have met. My young son who originally came out here with me arrived two days before I did. Not knowing if it was alright to be in the house he chose to stay and sleep in his car in the driveway. Neighbors on the otherside of me watched him for a short while, then took their hands out of their pockets,,,,,and brought him over turkey dinner. Thank you Alfred and Francis..........

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by a51ampFuse

To add to my prior posting I would like to mention the -few good people- I have met. My young son who originally came out here with me arrived two days before I did. Not knowing if it was alright to be in the house he chose to stay and sleep in his car in the driveway. Neighbors on the otherside of me watched him for a short while, then took their hands out of their pockets,,,,,and brought him over turkey dinner. Thank you Alfred and Francis..........

hmm.

It seems that even from your experiences, given a reason to be caring, then your neighbors are.

I moved here and camped in a motorhome while building a house. I went into the closest town that is big enough to support a traffic light, and I attended a few lodge meetings.

I am not a big social drinker, but I went in and joined the American Legion.

I went over to the VFW and I joined them too.

I got active with both, and began cooking for their events. As it has worked out I fit-in better with the crowd of folks at the VFW [we all deal with PTSD]. I have quickly became their chaplain.

I was the cook in the VFW kitchen for eight months during their meat raffles and various functions [until the ladies decided that they really wanted to take the kitchen over again for their fund raisers], so I do not cook their anymore. Though I am willing if the need arises again.

I tended bar as a volunteer in the VFW when the paid bar-tenders needed to take some time off.

I went to these organizations, and I got involved.

I went to the local organic Farmer's Market, I applied to join it as a vendor, and this past summer I attended each Saturday's market [except for when I had to perform a funeral].

It took my effort to go out and to get involved with these folks.

Now I have only lived in Maine for three years, but I think that I have been easily 'accepted'.

When I go into town, folks may recognize me from the American Legion, or from the VFW, or from the Farmer's Market, or from my son' being in the high school ROTC program.

I think that Mainers can be very friendly, if given an opening.



[wow, that is a lot of 'I' statements. I do not intend to sound bragging, rather to show that by purposefully focusing my efforts to get active in some aspect of the community, I have become accepted]

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

[wow, that is a lot of 'I' statements. I do not intend to sound bragging, rather to show that by purposefully focusing my efforts to get active in some aspect of the community, I have become accepted]

So right, you can either show you want to be part of your community, or be "from away." Hats off to you Forest for becoming a contributing member of your community. It is all in what you offer your area, not what the area can offer you. Mainers like people who are neighbors, not just the people who own the house next door.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by msina

My older sisters where "Daughters of the Eastern Star" I believe they were called. White dresses and all. I was child #8 (of 10). By that time my parents (who also raised 8 of our cousins) were too depleted to have time for social amenities for many things. Dad "went west" In '92, one of my sisters has his Masonic Bible and his apron, another has his ring.

I think that my girlfriend might be interested in this. Her Dad, Grand dad and an Uncle were all Masons (as well as a friend of hers).

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

I think that my girlfriend might be interested in this. Her Dad, Grand dad and an Uncle were all Masons (as well as a friend of hers).

Before reading this forum, I have never heard of the "Daughters of the Eastern Star" before.

The 'Eastern Star' [E.O.S.] is nationwide and international, it does support two youth organizations: 'The Job's Daughters', and 'The Rainbow Girls'.

The E.O.S. could very well be described as: an organization for the daughters of the E.O.S., and I wonder if that is what happened. Explaining the organization to a child and saying "well this group is for the daughters of the Eastern Star" would be an apt description of Job's Daughters.

It is possible that the Maine E.O.S. ladies may have had their own youth organization and called it whatever they desired to call it. However in doing so, it would not be nationwide with conventions and competitions and so forth.

Both Jobbies and Rainbows wear white robes with colourful ropes and tassels, and they practice some Bible retemories.

Kluv assuming that your girlfriend is of adult age, the organization that she would be eligible for is the E.O.S. My DW is a life member as well. However she has not attended any meetings since we have moved to Maine. I think that she may be wary of the prospects of immediately being thrust into holding an office.

If a female's father is a mason then she is eligible to join these family of organizations. E.O.S. for adult ladies, and Job's Daughters for girls.

Masonry could be thought of as a mutual aid society in some regards [though that is not the primary purpose].

From my perspective, one aspect of a female being a member of either of these organizations, is that it teaches a female, how to identify herself to a mason.

Masons are obligated to treat each others: mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters, as if they were our own near-kin.

Masonic lodges support their own private nursing homes and managed care facilities [which members of the E.O.S. are eligible to be residents if needed]. On an individual basis I have been approached by both: a lady who had been a Jobbie as a child and now needed my assistance, and by a lady who was a member of the E.O.S. she recognized my ring and needed my assistance. Both of these ladies that I am speaking of in this instance were living in Europe, did not know me otherwise, and approached me while I was living overseas.

There may well be other benefits or aspects of membership in the E.O.S. that I am not mentioning here. Any lady who is eligible would do well to seek out an E.O.S. chapter and speak with them.

[tlb71]

Obviously the taxes/expenses are very different in each area of Maine...
$2,984 for 150 year old house valued at 185K 2 years ago.(mil rates are even higher in surrounding towns)
$789 to register my vehicle last year(no, I don't drive a Volvo, Lexus, etc.)
$139 for the other vehicle (10 years old)
$89 for the LOWEST electric bill we have had here- for lights, W/D, dishwasher, TV
$365 per month for oil/propane
$65 per month for water
$1693 per month taken out of paycheck for taxes/health insurance/SS
$6.25 for 5 13 gallon trash bags that must be purchased for our trash to be collected
I could go on, but won't. We have a friend living in West Gardiner who has much lower property taxes but spends $450 in gas to commute to work.
For some of us it isn't practical to live up north in the woods even if we wanted to and we simply can't afford to take just any job. Could we survive, sure and I admire those of you that can make that lifestyle work for you, but it isn't for everyone. For those of us who choose not to live that way, I hope the assumption isn't being made that it is just about "shopping". My hope is that those planning a move here will do WAY more research than we did. Yes this is an absolutely beautiful state with much to offer, but it certainly isn't for everyone so do your research beyond crime stats and scenery.